The Lessons Glee Teaches Us

I’m not a pop music fan, but for whatever reason Fox’s hit series Glee is like crack to me.  As soon as the episode is up on Hulu, I have to watch it.  Being that I am so far from a mainstream music fan, it suprised me how much I could relate to last week’s episode “Britney/Brittany.”

In the beginning of the episode, everyone’s favorite chior teacher Mr. Shuester tells the glee club that they will be singing songs from the easy listening genre.  The club is not excited.  Instead, the club suggests that they cover Britney Spears songs for a students assembly.  Mr. Shuester refuses, and then the club made an interseting argument.  They argued that America’s youth (I would say that this includes my age bracket) grew up with Britney Spears.  She is the voice of our pop music history, even more than new acts like Lady Gaga.

Begrudgingly, I have to admit that I agree.  I was in the last years of my elementary school and the beginning phases of my middle school year when Britney was having her hay day.  I can not begin to even count the number of times my friends and I jammed out to Britney Spears, or watched her wonderfully terrible movie Crossroads.  Even as we grew up and moved on to other genres of music most people my age still love Britney.  Britney Spears reminds everyone I know of an easier, more free time.  Finally, Mr. Shuester realized this and let his glee club cover some Britney tunes.  All was well in the world.

Hello World: Social concerns for an over connected population (MB-200)

Like many people my age, I am guilty of over sharing on social networks.  I’m not a wild child, but I do enjoy taking silly pictures of myself and my friends at parties, shows, etc.  I don’t really ever stop and think twice about putting most of these pictures on things like Facebook.com, so that my friends can also see what a great time I had.  Then a realization hit me.

I see this becoming more and more of a problem for social network over sharers.  It’s no secret that employers are now looking at potential employees social networks to see what kind of person this applicant is.  I know lots of people who would not appear to be a good future employee to companies stopping by their social networking pages.

And what about children who have now just started using the internet, where social networks, as far as they know, have always been around.  I’m concerned that if these young people are careless about what they put up on the internet, then eventually, it will be impossible for them to escape their childhood personas; as we all know, once you put something out on the internet, its there forever.

What does that mean for over connected children?  Will social networking be something that holds them back in life?  Google CEO suggests that children change their names later in life to escape their online persona.  We don’t yet know if this drastic of a measure will be necessary in the future, however, this maybe the future for over connected children.

Cut Ups

Dear blogosphere, I did not loose my mind before I wrote this post.  The following in an exercise in the Cut-up technique.  This started out as a Dada era excercise and was used by William S. Burroughs.  David Bowie and Kurt Cobain used this technique to write song lyrics.  Here is my cut up:

While much has been made of a Tand Catholics.  Fifty-seven percent similar Pew poll) which showed the Mormon faith, compared Barak Obama is a Muslim and er words, 44% of Americans are correct, under Islamic law-the crything that’s happened to ridicule of the poll respondents antill don’t get it.  Skipped another part of the poll.  T, surveyed 1,002 adults-89% growing anti-Semitism in Americ likely voters-on Aug. 16-17.  Victims of most religion-based hat those who ridicule the poll and four Americans respect Jews and ly upset at the high respect for closely behind by respect for Chrnd we know that’s generally the Hmmm…why are liberals so upreligious in America have a they so anti-Semitic and anti-Chrve, dangerous organized religion respondents who believe in Obama id in this little aside in the article: same for these liberals, because ois widespread antipathy, 62% of While the poll revealed that prejually know a Muslim American.  Widespread, respect for other religonally known as American Respondents held the Jewish faithd the “American” part is just an professing to hold a favorable imp.  Than attitudes toward Protestants a Time magazine poll (and a say they have a favorable view of hat one in four Americans believe with 44% for Muslims.  So, in othas I noted, they are technically morons.  Depressing that after eve coverage and liberal media America in the last decade, they snd their answers has largely the poll, conducted by Abt SRBIthe Time poll shows that, despite of whom identified themselves as a (Jews, NOT Muslims, are the Given this, its very fair to say thate crimes), more than three in are upset by the results are probabthe Jewish religion, followed Jews and Christians in America.  Astains-Protestants and Catholics.  Case: liberals who hate organized oset by these results?  Why are strange love for the most opressiistian?  If they can call ther is: Islam.  And that’s reflectes Muslim, “bigots,” I can do the Despite (or perhaps because of) thf these poll results: respondents say they don’t person dice toward Mulsims is Um, I’m one of the 38% who persgious traditions remains sturdy.  Muslim (they are Muslim first, am in the highest regard, with 75% oression-just slightly higher.

Enough about you, lets talk about me (MB-200)

Obviously, my name is Sarah Lentz.  I am an MEB student who started IPR on the engineering side.

I am from a very small town in eastern Nebraska.  I graduated in a class of 43 if that gives a better indication of the size.  I’ve always loved a wide variety of music, which is semi-rare in the country heavy Cornhusker state.

I went to two different colleges before I came to IPR, and I majored in Pre-Law (horrible) and International Business (even worse).  I realized in one of my Pre-Law classes that when I should have been paying attention to tax law protocol and other enthralling legal topics, I was thinking about music and the music business.  Being a good, mundane mid-westerner, I tried one more year of schooling for a normal profession and finally decided that I owed it to my future self to at least give working in the entertainment industry a try.  I have been a much happier person since.

When I finish IPR, my long term hope is to become a tour manager and run live sound for the band I manage.  I also have found I really enjoy the promotion side of the industry.  Not to sound like I’ve been brainwashed, but I love IPR, and I feel like its giving me the skills I need to break into this industry being perhaps one step ahead of my competitors.

SxSW summary

Like everyone who goes to IPR, it goes without saying that I have been a life long music fan.  Through a combination of following different bands, and reading different music magazines, I had heard of South by Southwest.  All I really knew was that a ton of my favorite indie bands went to Austin every spring for a music festival.  I didn’t really know any more than that and it was never a life goal to go…Texas isn’t exactly my favorite state in the country.  Sometimes very impulsive decisions work out to be some of the best.  When I heard that IPR was starting a South by Southwest class, I figured it sounded like a better use of my spring break than going home to Nebraska for two weeks, so as soon as I heard about it, I went and signed up.  Words can’t express how happy I am that I did.

After learning more about South by Southwest I got even more excited to go.  Of course, I was most excited to see the shows…2,000 bands in five days sounds awfully appealing to me.  I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the panels.  I thought they would either be really boring, or that maybe they would be super sweet and mind blowing and I would end up learning lots of great techniques to help my future career.  Before we left, it was suggested that we plan the panels and shows that we were going to go to.  Because I want to be a tour manager, I picked all of the touring panels and anything that was “direct to fan” related.  I purposely didn’t plan what shows I wanted to see.  I was really excited to discover new music just by walking around Austin.

When we arrived my previous expectations changed.  The first night in Austin was a long one.  After traveling all day, I was super tired but stoked to hear some awesome music.  I started out going to shows with friends, but after a few songs into Motorhead’s set, I wanted to leave.  I started down 6th Street and tried to go into a bunch of venues.  Unfortunately, I seemed to find all of the few 21 and over venues in Austin.  I just kept going to buildings until they let me in, and then I got to see my first night of great shows.  From then on, I realized having some sort of game plan when it came to the shows still allowed me to discover new music and it helped me have the peace of mind to know I could get in and see some of my favorite bands.

My expectation about the panels completely changed.  I honestly think the panels was my favorite thing about South by Southwest.  I learned so much and loved almost every panel I went to.  I got some great tips that I will use when working in the industry.  I got to meet and hear from some of the people I look up to who already work in the industry.  The panels really made me realize just how valuable my education at IPR is.  I learned a lot of things from panels, but there was nothing that went over my head.  Some of the things that were discussed at a few panels, were already obsolete compared to what I had learned from IPR.  As a college student, I could have a confident, well informed conversation with industry professionals, and that was an amazing feeling that was well worth the trip.

Probably the greatest thing about South by Southwest was the actual networking that takes place.  From just an IPR standpoint, you can see how important networking is.  Before we left I didn’t anyone else going.  It was a little nerve wracking to go on such a big trip with strangers, but after we came back, I can say that I know and am friends with sixteen new people.  Networking is the fuel of the entertainment industry, and South by Southwest is a great place to network.  I met so many great industry professionals who were willing to talk to me.  I was being taken seriously and listened to by people working in the industry that I want to work in and I came back with some great contacts.

I am so happy that I randomly decided to go to South by Southwest.  There is no doubt in my mind that South by Southwest has changed me.  I was feeling burnt out after my second quarter of IPR, and SxSW was a fresh breath of air that gave me even more drive to work in the music industry.  I feel like this is such a worthwhile conference, that I am going to do my best to come back every year.  Whenever someone asks me about SxSW i always suggest that they go…its the best impulse decision I’ve ever made.

SxSW Company Profiles

The first performer I saw at South by Southwest.  Kat Edmonson opened Jackie Robbinson’s key note address singing a mixture of jazz standards and originals.  I was lucky enough to meet Ms. Edmonson and ask here what it was like being a new artist in the current industry climate.  It didn’t take long for me to realize that she is one smart cookie.  Edmonson said pretty much everything we learn in copyright class; how the only substantial revenue streams that she has is publishing and touring.  How downloading isn’t killing the music industry, and how new artists are coming up in an industry that is moving faster than it ever has.

Ian Rogers was a big hit for everyone that went to SxSW it seems.  Rogers (middle) is the creator of Topspin Media.  Topspin is a great company, and Rogers proved to be a great person, running great panels and kindly meeting people after they ended.  Topspin creates and distributes marketing software for artist that easily links them to fans.  Its is a revolutionary company for where both fans and artists can find what they need.  Topspin diagnostic tools and their site in general is one of the coolest things I’ve seen in the industry so far.

Sometimes it takes going to a music festival to learn about other music festivals.  I went to Austin, TX and learned about Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI.  When I went to the panel about booking festivals, they had a representative from Summerfest.  It sounds like a great festival much closer than Texas.  It was interesting to hear how they balance up incomers and established bands when booking, and how the decide who headlines and how they deal with sponsers.

Time for an Exodus

My friends,

It has been a very long time since I’ve gotten up on my political soap box.  Since I’ve moved to Minnesota, I feel like I’ve given up one passion (politics) for another (music), but I can’t go without saying something about what is currently taking place in Israel.

For many years, Israel has been denying basic human rights to non-Israeli nationals.  Gaza has had land given just to be reclaimed, displacing its occupants.  Harsh curfews, check-points, and travel restrictions have been placed on Palestinians.  Israel has built walls to keep Palestinians out.  Disruptive troop marches through Palestinian sectors have had human beings reeling and living in constant fear.  I fully understand that there are Muslim extremists that want to harm Israel and the Jewish state.  I understand that Israel tries to protect itself.  That being said, there is a line where protection turns to provocation, and Israel is getting dangerously close to crossing that line.  I will spare any comparison of modern day Israel to the Third Reich only because as a world community, it would be nice to finally make a move away from the past, while keeping its lessons in our hearts.  Do I support Hamas and the extremists?  Absolutely and unquestionably NO.

I cannot, however, support Israel as it continues the violence surrounding them.  This weekend 10 tons of humanitarian aid goods sent by Turkey, Greece, and Sweden were being shipped by boat to Gaza.  The materials being shipped were what America has been trying to get Israel to send to the West Bank for well over a year.  The ships were attacked by Israeli soldiers, and nine civilians on the main boat of the fleet were murdered.  I chose my words very particularly, they were murdered.

Terrorism cannot be answered by terrorism.  I hate to be cliche and quote Barack Obama (mostly because as of yet, America has done little but verbally slap the wrist of Israel) but he makes a good point…”It is a sign of neither courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children, or to blow up old women on a bus.  That is not how moral authority is claimed, that is how it is surrendered.”

I was lucky enough to be born in America.  I have never had to worry for my life while riding a bus or stopping in a cafe.  I thank God for that and I doubt I will ever fully realize what that fear means.  Yes, Israel has been terrorized.  It has had its sons and daughters taken from it, and it is still grieving.  What Israel fails to realize, is that Palestine is in the same situation.  When violence begets violence everyone is a loser.  Israel also fails to realize that in order to bring peace to their homes, they cannot destroy or deny life, liberty, and development to Palestine.  The world community is catching on to this, but Prime Minister Netanyahu refuses to do anything more than act like a petulant child when confronted about Israel’s blatant human rights violations.  It further sickens me that my government, a government that foolishly or not, prides itself on defending those who can’t defend themselves, soothes and bends to Netanyahu’s policies.

I won’t denounce tyranny in Iraq, Afganistan, and Iran, and support it in Israel.  That’s right, I am calling the governing body of Israel tyrannical, not to their own people, but to their Palestinian neighbors.  It is time for an exodus.  As not just an American citizen, but of a citizen of world, I cannot, will not, and will encourage everyone I know, not to support Israel.  I’m not calling for an invasion or an act of war.  I’m calling for cutting diplomatic ties with a country that devalues human life so much that they turn a cold shoulder to the needs of many based on the violent actions of a few.  As a country, we need to stop politically backing Israel, we need to cut off support and aid.  Israel is on a course of alienating themselves from almost all of their allies, and I for one, do not want to see America go down with them.

Just last week, a teacher of mine told me that some day I needed to stop viewing the world in such an airy, idealist way.  Why?  Why can’t we do what is right and shun what is wrong?  Is Hamas right?

No.

Is Israel?

No.  I cannot condone the acts of Israel, and it saddens me that my government, the government of the land of the free, supports a government that thinks no Palestinian should be free.  America has a not so forgotten history with discrimination (Arizona) and it would be more beneficial to heal from within than support an outside country that devalues human life so much.  I urge you my friends, help push America away from helping Israel to further violence in the Middle East.

Help by signing this electronic petition being submitted to the UN for an investigation of the Gaza flotilla raid.

Shut up and sing

This is an older documentary that my wonderful friend loaned to me.  I watched and it was the craziest thing ever.  The doc follows the Dixie Chick after their now infamous George Bush hatin’.  First and fore most:  whaaaat the hell America?  These three country girls were, in a way, ahead of the time.  Before anyone really bashed on Bush, but they absolutely were not the last.

I’m not a feminist in any way, but honestly, if the Dixie Chicks would have been a male country group to say those things, their audience would not have turned on them in the crazy way that early 2000′s country fans did.  This case does have an industry point though.

There was a part in the doc when the Chicks and their team are about to release a new album and no one is quite sure how to do it because radio was not an option.  Country radio (and 2 corporate radio conglomerates) banned any and all Dixie Chicks songs.  The manager sounded defeated, lost.

This to me show how fast this industry moves.  That was only a few years ago, and without radio help, the Dixie Chicks album sales suffered greatly, which was sad because that was a really well made album.  It also shows various aspects of the entertainment industry:  What happens when your brand as a band suffers, how do you gain fans and media back after you do something stupid, how do you publicize something relatively unknown.

Whether you like country, the Dixie Chicks, or politics, this is a great documentary to watch about resurrecting and coping with careers in the entertainment business.  Check it out.

The coolest old lady ever.

Don't do it

I’m not one to jump on bandwagons, and when this whole Betty White resurgence hit, I thought “um Betty White is old and senile, and the only thing I liked her is was Golden Girls.”  I would now like to publicly rescind those thoughts because she killed it on SNL last weekend.

Words can’t express how much I want Betty White to be metal all the time.

Oh Rose, you’ve come a long way from St. Olaf’s…that’s a Golden Girls reference for those who have a life.

Exciting show coming to Minneapolis!

If you are free May 14th and in the Twin Cities, I sincerely urge you to do all of the following:

1.Go to the Pantages Theater in Minneapolis

2.Sit down and get real comfy

3.Get ready to get yelled at and like it damn it!

Henry Rollins is coming to town on his spoken word Frequent Flyer Tour and I WILL be going.

If you don’t know who Henry Rollins is, crawl out from under your rock, hit up google, and then listen to not only his music, but his spoken word projects, and while you’re at it read his literature.  Henry Rollins obviously has a very “in your face” persona, that definitely carries into his spoken word.  This will be a good time, and you will probably end up walking out of the theater smarter than you came in.